Abby Melby
Cofounder and CEO, Paloma
Abby Melby is the cofounder and CEO of Paloma, the AI client intake, document collection and tax prep platform built for small and new accounting firms. She works directly with the firm owners who use Paloma on how they collect client documents and get returns out the door.
Articles by Abby Melby
- Engagement Letter for Tax Preparers: Clauses and TemplateThe clauses every tax prep engagement letter needs, the mistakes that cause scope creep and fee fights, and a plain language template you can adapt.
- Do I Need a CPA for My LLC? How to Decide for Your SetupNo law says your LLC needs a CPA. Here's how your LLC is taxed, when filing yourself works, and the moments when paying for help makes sense.
- Tax Document OCR: How It Works and Where It BreaksHow tax document OCR reads W-2s, 1099s and K-1s, where it gets values wrong, and how small tax firms can review the output fast.
- How Much Does It Cost to Have Business Taxes Done?What business tax returns really cost once you add the owner's return, states and books, plus how to get a fixed quote before tax season.
- Hiring Someone to Do Your Business Taxes: What to KnowWho to hire for your business taxes, what it costs, the IRS red flags, what you'll sign and what to hand over, matched to your type of business.
- How to Automate Tax Client Intake (and What to Keep Manual)A stage by stage map of what to automate in tax client intake, a reminder schedule with stop rules, and the five things a person should still own.
- Tax Client Intake Form Template: What to Ask and WhyA free tax client intake form template for small firms, section by section, plus what to leave off the form and how to collect it safely.
- Electronic Tax Organizer: How It Works and How to SwitchWhat an electronic tax organizer is, how it differs from a PDF, what to look for in one, and a simple plan to move your clients over before tax season.
- Client Portal for Accountants: A Guide for Small Tax FirmsWhat a client portal for accountants should do, what the law expects from it, and how to pick one your clients will actually use.
- TaxDome Pricing: What Tax Pros Say and How Paloma ComparesWhat tax pros are saying about TaxDome pricing, what it costs today, and how Paloma's pricing compares for firms of different sizes.
- How to Start a Tax Preparation Business: 2026 ChecklistThe exact steps to start a tax preparation business in 2026, from your PTIN and EFIN to state rules, pricing, software and your first clients.